Spacer



Aug. 10, 1948. K. w. HILDENBRAND 2,446,539

SPACER Original Filed April 22, 1940 INVENTOR.

KENNETH W.HILDEN BRAND Patented Aug. 10, 1948 SPACER Kenneth W. Hildenbrand, Monroe, Mich.', as-

signor to 'Monroe Auto Equipment Company, Monroe, Mich, a corporation of Michigan 7 Original application April 22, 1940, Serial No. 331,037, now Patent No. 2,355,801, dated August "15, 1944. Divided and this application March 7, 1944, Serial No; 525,419 v semblies, such, for example, as motor vehicles, it

is oftentimes desirable to prevent contact between certain of the parts to either eliminate noise resulting from relative movement of the parts, or to control the friction between the parts.

One particular instance in the manufacture of a motor vehicle where it is desirable to eliminate noise and control the friction between adjacent relatively movable parts is in the construction of the leaf springs forming a part of the suspension system. Leaf springs are usually composed of a plurality of superimposed individual leaves installed in a manner to permit relative sliding movement between the leaves during operation of the vehicle. The friction resulting from relative movement between adjacent leaves controls to a large extent the action of the spring and has a tendency to develop a noise or squeak after repeated operations.

It has been proposed to not only eliminate the noise resulting from relative shifting movement of the leaves of the spring but, in addition, to control the friction of the spring by interposing inserts between adjacent leaves of a spring, and it is one of the principal features of this invention to simplify, as well as reduce the cost of installation of the inserts. It is a further advantageous feature of the present invention to provlde a spacer capable of being inexpensively manufactured on a production basis and having provision for either attaching or positioning the same on one of two adiacently positioned parts to space the latter from each other.

With the foregoing, as well as other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction of the several embodiments of the spacer about tobe described.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of semi-elliptical leaf spring having spacers or inserts constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view thnough two leaves at one end of the leaf spring; and

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view of a modified form of construction.

Although the present invention may be advantageously used in practically all cases whereit' is desirable to space adjacent parts from contact with each other, nevertheless, it finds particularutility when employed in a leaf spring construction to eliminate the noise resulting from relative shifting movement between adjacent spring leaves and to also control the friction between the leaves. Accordingly, I have selected the latter use for the purpose of illustrating the various embodiments of this invention.

In Figure 1 of the drawing, I have shown a conventional type of semi-elliptical leaf spring l0 having a plurality of superposed individual leaves i i clamped at the center thereof to the axle i 2 of the vehicle. In accordance with conventional practice, the lengths of the leaves I i progressively decrease from the top leaf to the bottom leaf and the opposite ends of the top leaf are connected to the sprung weight of the vehicle according to orthodox practice. With this construction, it will be noted that relative movement between the sprung and unsprung assemblies of the vehicle causes a shifting movement of the leaves ll of the sprin relative to each other. The friction between adjacent sprin leaves controls to a large extent the action of the spring and, in order to regulate this friction, inserts [2a or l2b of friction material are inserted between adjacent leaves at the free ends thereof. This friction material is preferably of a non-metallic composition and also serves to space the major portions of the spring leaves from metallic contact with each other so that any noise resulting from relative shifting movement of the leaves is reduced to the minimum.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, the button Ma comprises the head of the metal staple l6 having the prongs i1 forced through the friction disc 12a and crimped over the latter. With this construction, the spring leaves may be provided with openings l8 therethrough for receiving the heads 16 of the staples to position the friction discs relative to the spring leaves. This construction is inexpensive to produce and may be readily assembled.

The modification shown in Figure 3 differs from the above described form in that the friction disc I2?) is provided with a snap fastener I 9 engageable within an opening .20 formed in the leaf spring to secure the friction disc in place. In the present instance, the snap fastener I9 is secured to the friction disc by suitable prongs 2| projecting from the base 22 of the fastener and adapted to be crimped over the top surface of the disc in the manner clearly shown in Figure 3. The snap fastener, selected for the purpose of illustration, is of relatively simple inexpensive construction having a plurality of spring fingers 24 adapted to extend through the opening 20 and terminating in enlarged portions 25 frictionally engageabie with the underside of the leaf spring to prevent accidental removal of the friction disc.

The above construction is particularly advantageous in that it appreciably simplifies and expedites assembly of the leaf spring. With this construction, the friction discs may be attached to each spring leaf before the latter are assembled to provide the construction shown in Figure 1, and there is no possibility of movement of the friction discs during this assembly. Attention may be called to the fact that the construction shown in Figure 3 is especially applicable,

for installation at other parts of the vehicle where it is desired to space adjacent parts from each other.

Whatl claim as my invention is:

A leaf spring assembly comprising a plurality of leaves arranged in successive pairs of difierent lengths from a common point of fixed surface contact, each of the leaves, except the longest leaf of the series, having an aperture in its end portion beyond the end of the contacting shorter leaf, a bearingelement, a support to which the 4 bearing element is secured, said support being positionable in the aperture of each leaf, the bearing element being of a compressible material and greater in peripheral dimension than the said aperture positioned between the leaves andcseparating the same for a distance from their ends determined by the thickness of the bearing element therebetween.

KENNETH W. HILDENBRAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

